Is this what I think it is? (1 Viewer)

oldsquaw

Old Tooter

• Jun 2, 2003

• #1

I photographed this on the Arkansas River, e. of Pueblo, Colorado Saturday. Or any guesses.

 

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C

cjay

Well-known member

• Jun 2, 2003

• #2

Looks like Cave Swallow (Hirundo fulva)

 

Charles Harper

Régisseur

• Jun 2, 2003

• #3

Van, with the light the way it is, it's difficult to tell for sure-- both the forehead and the throat are in relative shadow. As you know from the Nat. Geographic guide and Sibley, Mexican/southwestern Cliff Swallows also have cinnamon foreheads, and its hard to call your bird 'pale-throated'. Any more pix? Any more opinions?

 

oldsquaw

Old Tooter

• Jun 2, 2003

• #4

The light was bad, back lit and a thunderstorm was a comming. The bird did have a very buffy throat. The forehead was a bit lighter than it appears. The bird was with 50+ Cliff Swallows.

In my opinion, in was a Cave, Colorado's first (photographed). There are two sight records by one observer (one last fall and one two weeks ago). Van

 

Michael Frankis

conehead

• Jun 2, 2003

• #5

I'd say Cliff Swallow, southwestern race. There is a blackish patch under the chin (more than just the shading!), and the red on the forehead stops above the front of the eye, on Cave Swallow it would extend behind the eye.

Michael

 

Jane Turner

Well-known member

• Apr 25, 2004

• #6

Bumping this up for further discussion - I'm so busy indexing I don't have time to have an opinion that needs research!

 

CJW

Hit-and-run WUM

• May 1, 2004

• #7

Michael Frankis said:

I'd say Cliff Swallow, southwestern race. There is a blackish patch under the chin (more than just the shading!), and the red on the forehead stops above the front of the eye, on Cave Swallow it would extend behind the eye.

Michael

Click to expand...

I don't know how I missed this one, thanks Jane!

Well, the black-throat isn't a conclusive i.d. feature of Cliff Swallow as fulva and pelodoma races of Cave Swallow can show dark and eveb black on the throat. Nor can I confirm Michael's reference to the extent of the forehead patch going past the eye on Cave Swallow.
However the general tonality of the aforementioned patch is way too dark for Cliff Swallow (it should be similar to the underparts colours).
and I consider this bird to be a Cave Swallow - possibly fulva

 

Jane Turner

Well-known member

• May 1, 2004

• #8

Glad to see that we are all not agreed!

 

Grousemore

Senior Member

• May 1, 2004

• #9

I'm with Michael on this one,Cliff Swallow,south-western race,H.p.melanogaster,which shows the darker forehead.
If it was with 50 or so other Cliffs,the odds alone favour this.

 

B

Bluetail

Senior Moment

• May 1, 2004

• #10

That forehead looks a good deal paler than the rufous below the ear-coverts. On a Cave Swallow I think I'm right in saying it shouldn't do that.